NEW DELHI, Sep 14: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday described the BRICS Summit hosted by India as a success, saying participating countries were able to build consensus despite deep divisions in the international environment.
Speaking to mediapersons in New Delhi, Jaishankar said the summit was held against the backdrop of a “very polarised world”, marked by major conflicts, competing interests and sharply differing positions.
He said the ability of BRICS members to reach agreement on difficult issues was one of the most significant outcomes of the meeting.
According to Jaishankar, the West Asia conflict was among the most challenging issues discussed during the summit. Despite differences among members, the grouping managed to agree on a statement calling for peace, security and stability in the region.
The BRICS members adopted the joint New Delhi Declaration on Saturday following intensive negotiations. The document called for long-term understanding, uninterrupted global trade and supply chains, continued energy flows, and protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Jaishankar said the achievement went beyond simply negotiating a common document, noting that the summit created an atmosphere for open and comfortable discussions among participating leaders.
“Leaders met, who perhaps in other circumstances may not have met,” he said, adding that their interactions contributed to the wider global discussion on important international issues.
Several bilateral meetings also took place on the sidelines of the summit at the Bharat Mandapam complex. Among them was a meeting between Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which experts viewed as significant amid continuing tensions in West Asia.
Jaishankar said the participation of 32 delegations demonstrated India’s strong convening capability. The gathering included representatives from 11 BRICS member states, 10 partner countries, four regional organisations and seven international institutions.
He highlighted the presence of several heads of state and government, including the presidents of Russia, China, Iran, South Africa, Indonesia and Egypt, as well as the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
The minister said the summit’s agenda centred on economic growth, development and technology, with a strong focus on the priorities of the Global South.
“Standing up for the Global South” emerged as a key message from the summit, he said. The discussions were organised around the themes of reform and resilience, which Jaishankar described as issues capable of bringing participating countries together.
He also pointed to the consensus reached on terrorism, saying BRICS leaders strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The New Delhi Declaration specifically recognised the Pahalgam terror attack of April 2025 as unacceptable. Leaders also reaffirmed their opposition to cross-border terrorism and stressed a zero-tolerance approach while rejecting double standards in efforts to combat terrorism.
Jaishankar said the summit demonstrated the effectiveness of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing differences and advancing common interests.
“Overall, I would say the prime minister’s message of dialogue, diplomacy and development resonated around the world,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Jaishankar noted that there had been doubts over whether the summit would take place successfully.
“Many people said it won’t happen. It did happen. It happened in New Delhi, and it happened under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership,” he said.